Skyfall Bond girl Naomie Harris - who's set to star with the actor in Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom - suggested that Idris has been chatting with the film's producers about possibly taking up the role.

Naomie, 36, revealed: "I didn’t realise that there was this talk and then I did a film with Idris and he said that he met (Bond producer) Barbara Broccoli and that it does seem like there is a possibility in the future that there could very well be a black James Bond.

“I would have to vote for Idris because I just finished working with him and he’s a great guy.”

But current Bond Daniel Craig - star of Skyfall, out today - has just signed up for two more movies, which could've scuppered Idris' chances.

On top of winning a Golden Globe for his lead role in Luther, Idris has also starred in hugely successful US show The Wire and Ridley Scott film Prometheus.

Idris, 40, last year addressed reports he could be the next iconic spy, insisting his race was irrelevant.

He said: “It’s a rumour . I just don’t want to be the black James Bond. Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn’t the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don’t want to be called the black James Bond.”

Though Idris did joke he's make an impressive entrance if he got to meet with studio executives.

He said: “I’d not only get in the cab, but I’d take the taxi driver out of the car, hostage, jump out while it was moving, jump onto a pedal bike that was just past the door as I got on it, and then get onto a plane - on the wing - land on top of Sony Studios, slide through the air conditioning, and land in the office.